Window shade supports

ABSTRACT

A window shade support comprises an attractive elongated box having a concealed shade mounted therein. Angular brackets on the box may be slipped into mating notches on the window frame. This way the entire shade support assembly snaps into a frame quickly and easily.

United States Patent 1 Boneck [111 3,724,525 [4 1 Apr. 3, 1973 [54] WINDOW SHADE SUPPORTS Liil'iiiiid, Menornoiie e fialls wis. 53051 22 Filed: July 12,1971

[21] App1.No.: 161,557

2,772,731 12/1956 Korba ..160/28 808,400 12/1905 Parsons ..l60/28 1,138,295 5/1915 James ..160/28 UX 1,217,561 2/1917 Burmell ....160/28 X 1,971,451 8/1934 He1fmann.... ..160/28 Primary Examiner-David J. Williamowsky Assistant Examiner-Philip C. Kannan Attorney-Irwin C. Alter et a1.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A window shade support comprises an attractive elongated box having a concealed shade mounted therein. Angular brackets on the box may be slipped into mating notches on the window frame. This way the entire shade support assembly snaps into a frame quickly and easily.

3 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR3 ms INVENTOR ROGE R L. BONECK wwwm AT TO R N E YS v WINDOW SHADE SUPPORTS My invention relates to window shade supports, and more particularly to a device that has the shade mounted within an enclosure, for its protection.

Window shades are and have been known for many years. Usually, there are two small brackets which must be screwed or nailed on or inside a window frame. This usually requires measuring and marking, which often leads to misalligned shades. Also, the chore of driving small nails very close to an upper frame is painstaking. Finally, the conventional shade roller is not very attractive in appearance, and it would be better if the roller could not be seen.

Accordingly, an object of my invention is to provide a new and novel device for mounting a window shade. Here an object is to mount a shade without the use of brackets and without a permanent attachment, as with nails or screws, to the wall or window frame.

Another object is to provide a device of the character described which is decorative, acts as a shadesupport, and may be easily removed and replaced, without requiring either special mechanical training or tools.

Still another object is to provide a device that enables either a lowering of shades mounted on the top of a window, or the raising of shades mounted on the bottom of a window, without interference.

A further object of my invention is to provide a decorative protection for the shade. Here an object is to provide a protective device which has removable FIG. 6 is a perspective front or outside view of the opposite end plate provided with a circular aperture to of the plate view of one end of the assembled unit, illustrating the end plates, for supporting the shade and the entire assembled unit.

In keeping with an aspect of the invention, the device illustrated, described, and claimed herein is a self-contained unit, forming an enclosure for a conventional shade which is concealed therein. Thisenclosure may be slidably inserted into either an upper or a lower seccover the top window, and thereby permit the lower.

window to be raised to an open position.

The inventivedevice is simple in construction, provides protection for the shade, and may be applied to either the bottom or the top of the window frame, with ease.

Other and further objects of my invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds, when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the entire assembled device, comprising a generally square tube with a pair of end plates inserted therein;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the en of the tube with an end plate in position; 7

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the end of the tube, showing an open longitudinal slot extending along its top surface to accommodate the shade being drawn out of the tube;

FIG. 4 is aperspective front, or outside view of the end plate provided with a slot, to accommodate one end of the shade assembly;

FIG. 5 is a perspective rear or inside view of the end plate shown in FIG. 4; v

shade roller mounted therein, and showing the end bracket inserted into a slot provided by a window frame, shown in phantom.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts and features throughout the several views. More particularly, the character 10 identifies a square tube, which may be constructed of metal, plastic, or the like. This tube is open at both ends and equipped with an open longitudinal slot 11,,extending along the entire length of its top surface.

There is an end plate 12, provided with a slot-type aperture 13, (see FIGS. 4 and 5). Another end plate 14 is provided with a circular aperture 15, (see FIGS. 6 and 7). These end plates 12 and 14 may also be constructed of metal, plastic, or the like. These plates, which engage the open ends of the tube 10, are arcuately disposed to provide; an adequate surface for frictional engagement of the end plate between the front and rear walls of the rectangular tube 10. One of these plates may be removed to enable the shade rolll8 of any conventional design, to be inserted therein, as shown in FIG. 9. The portion 19 of the shade 18, FIGS. 8 and 9, extends from the roll 18 and through the longitudinal slot 11 (see FIG. 8).

Obviously, one end of the rolled shade 18 is supported within the tube 10 by a flat end. pin or plate 20 fitting into and engaging the slot type aperture 13 in the end plate 12. A round pin (not shown), supports the other end of the shade 18 by engaging the aperture 15 in the other end plate 14.

The end plates 12 and 14 are provided with outwardly projecting horizontal bracket members or support means 21, which members are designed to engage slots 22 at either the upper or the lower ends of a molding or ridge 23, forming a part of the window frame, as shown in phantom in FIG. 9. The slots 22 may be cut either by a conventional saw, or in any other practical manner. In new construction, for example, those using metal framed windows, or the like, the slots are part of thetotal design.

The slot 22 is formed in the bottom and top of the molding or ridge 23, forming a part of the window frame. Therefore, the entire assembled unit may be easily moved between the bottom and the top of the window frame. Thus, the shade portion 19, may be pulled upward, or downward, to cover either the lower, or the upper portion of the window.

From the above description it should be apparent, that the device is simple in construction,economical to manufacture, and positive in its function :and performance. Although, I have shown a specific construction and arrangement, many changes may be made withouteffecting the operativeness of the device. Accordingly, I reserve" the rights to make the changes which do not depart from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the appended claims.

Iclaim: 1. A window frame assembly for supporting window shades,

said assembly comprising an elongated, rectangular, tubular housing being substantially the width of the window frame, said tubular housing including a pair of vertically disposed end plates at each end thereof, said end plates comprising support means, said support means comprising horizontally extending plates projecting away from said housing, said horizontally extending plates having substantially the same thickness as the bottom of said tubular housing and being coplanar therewith, mating slots in said window frame for receiving said horizontally extending plates to retain said housing in a given location, said end plates being generally arcuately shaped for frictionally fitting between the front and rear walls of said tubular housing at both sides of said houssaid end plates being held in place by the frictional engagement,

one of said end plates having a centrally disposed slot therein, and the other of said end plates having a centrally disposed circular hole therein for receiving the window shade spring member, and

said housing having a slot running substantially the length thereof to enable said shade to pass from and into said housing.

2. The window frame assembly of claim 1 wherein said elongated tubular housing comprises a single sheet formed into a tube with a rectangular cross section, having a front wall, a rear wall, a bottom section and a top section, and

said top section failing to meet said rear wall thereby providing said slot.

3. The window frame assembly of claim 2 wherein said end plates are provided with a top horizontal bracket member, and

said top horizontal bracket member extending inwardly to engage the top of said tubular housing thereby retaining said tubular housing in place when said bottom projecting horizontal bracket member-is engaged in said slot in said window frame. 

1. A window frame assembly for supporting window shades, said assembly comprising an elongated, rectangular, tubular housing being substantially the width of the window frame, said tubular housing including a pair of vertically disposed end plates at each end thereof, said end plates comprising support means, said support means comprising horizontally extending plates projecting away from said housing, said horizontally extending plates having substantially the same thickness as the bottom of said tubular housing and being coplanar therewith, mating slots in said winDow frame for receiving said horizontally extending plates to retain said housing in a given location, said end plates being generally arcuately shaped for frictionally fitting between the front and rear walls of said tubular housing at both sides of said housing, said end plates being held in place by the frictional engagement, one of said end plates having a centrally disposed slot therein, and the other of said end plates having a centrally disposed circular hole therein for receiving the window shade spring member, and said housing having a slot running substantially the length thereof to enable said shade to pass from and into said housing.
 2. The window frame assembly of claim 1 wherein said elongated tubular housing comprises a single sheet formed into a tube with a rectangular cross section, having a front wall, a rear wall, a bottom section and a top section, and said top section failing to meet said rear wall thereby providing said slot.
 3. The window frame assembly of claim 2 wherein said end plates are provided with a top horizontal bracket member, and said top horizontal bracket member extending inwardly to engage the top of said tubular housing thereby retaining said tubular housing in place when said bottom projecting horizontal bracket member is engaged in said slot in said window frame. 